Mechanism for inserting tufts in pile fabrics especially carpets



Dec. 24, 1957 r R. BARCLAY 2,817,365

MECHANISM FOR INSERTING TUFTS IN PILE FABRICS ESPECIALLY CARPETS Filed 0a.. 1a, 1955 k 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 I Inventor: $03M 7 .fiMczA B MD/(MQ D a/w nk 4M Mwv Atearneyj Dec. 24, 1957 R. BARCLAY 2,817,365

macx-umxsm FOR INSERTING TUFTS IN PILE FABRICS ESPECIALLY CARPETS Filed Oct. 18, 1955 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 lnperll or: [03131 7 fiA/PC'ZA 7 Attorney Dec. 24, 1951 R. BARCLAY 2,817,365 v MECHANISM FOR INSERTING TUFTS IN FILE FABRICS ESPECIALLY CARPETS Filed 0M 18, 1955 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 AttorneyS.

United States Patent Ofitice 2,817,365 Patented Dec. 24, 1957 MECHANISM FOR INSERTING TUFTS IN PILE FABRICS ESPECIALLY CARPETS Robert Barclay, Elderslie, Scotland, assignor to A. F. Stoddard and Company Limited, Elderslie, Johnstone, Scotland, a British company Application October 18, 1955, Serial No. 541,255

Claims priority, application Great Britain November 4, 1954 8 Claims. (Cl. 139-8) This invention relates to mechanism for inserting tufts in pile fabrics especially carpets (hereinafter and in the claims referred to simply as =carpets), and is especially for use in weaving Axminister type patterned or plain carpeting, face up or face down, from spool, nipper spool, gripper spool, or from yarn carriers, and also in the production of patterned fabrics wherein the tufts are inserted into a sheet-like backing having a surface layer of adhesive instead of being woven into the backing as is done in the conventional carpet loom.

The object of the present invention is to provide a mechanism for the purpose aforesaid which gives an increased rate of insertion of tufts per unit time thus tending to increase the speed at which carpets can be produced.

The invention is mechanism for inserting tufts in carpets, the mechanism comprising at least two sets of nippers, the sets being relatively spaced angularly around a rotary carrier, means for rotating said carrier step by step to dispose each set of nippers in turn at yarn-feeding and yarn-releasing stations, means for feeding yarn to each set of nippers at the feeding station, means for severing the tuft yarn from the feed at the feeding station, and means for closing or opening each set of nuippers at the respective stations to grip or release the yarn.

The rotary carrier in its stepwise movement arrives at a yarn-releasing position where the tufts are bound in by the weft or applied to an adhesive backing.

The rotary carrier is adapted to be moved vertically upwards into the yarn-feeding station as each row of nippers approaches same and is returned to its original position when a tuft of yarn is gripped by said row of nippers. This vertical movement is effected by means of rod and cam and ensures that each set of nippers has a secure grip on each tuft of yarn.

Preferably, the means for rotating said carrier is camactuated bevel gearing, the step-by-step movement of the carrier being effected by the cam contour.

Preferably also, the nipper opening-and-closing means comprising a series of helices or wedges adapted to be moved by a cam-actuated rod to a position wherein they close the sets of nippers which are retained in this position by the helices until the latter are removed by said rod. Spring means may be provided to move said rod to its operative position.

The invention is also the combination of a loom and tuft inserting mechanism as defined in the preceding paragraphs.

An embodiment of the invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. l is a fragmentary front elevation of a carpet loom embodying tuft-inserting mechanism according to the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary side elevation corresponding to Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a detail sectional view on the line Ill--III of Fig. l; and

Figs. 4 and 5 are respectively views from the left hand side and the right hand side of the carrier and nipper assembly.

Referring to the drawings, a carpet loom of known construction includes tuft-inserting mechanism comprising a carrier 10 adapted for vertical movement and rotary stepby-step movement, a number of rows of nippers 11 spaced angularly around the carrier 10, a yarn-feeding station 12, a yarn-releasing station 13, both of known construction, and means for closing or opening each set of nippers 11 at the respective stations to grip or release the yarn.

The carrier and nipper assembly (see especially Figs. 3 to 5) comprises the carrier 10 mounted on a shaft 14 rotatably supported at each end in a bearing 15 carried by a vertical rod 16. Four rows of nippers 11 are mounted on the carrier 10, each row being spaced apart from adjacent rows of nippers 11. Each row of nippers 11 includes a fixed nipper assembly 17 and a movable nipper assembly 18 which are normally urged apart, the assemblies being supported by clamps 19, in the present embodiment six pairs of clamps 19, and means being provided to open and close each row of nippers 11. at appropriate locations.

The carrier and nipper assembly is adapted for vertical movement in and out of the yarn-feeding station 12. This vertical movement is effected by the vertical rods 16 which are moved vertically by a pair of cams 20 mounted on the auxiliary cam shaft 21 of the loom and acting on followers 22 carried at the lower ends of the rods 16. The rods 16 pass through guides 23 secured to the frame 24 of the loom.

The means for rotating the carrier and nipper assembly step-by-step comprises a cam 25 mounted on the main cam shaft 26 of the loom and acting on a follower 27 carried by a spring-loaded cam lever 28 which moves a slide block 29 backwards and forwards in a slide bracket 30. The toand-fro movement of the slide block 29 is transmitted to a crank plate 31 by a connecting rod 32, the crank plate 31 being thus rotated. The rotatable crank plate 31 is keyed to a vertical shaft 33 mounted in a guide bracket 34, and the rotary movement of the shaft 33 is transmitted to the shaft 14 via bevel gears 35 and 36 the latter having dogs 37 engageable by dogs 38 slidable on a spline on shaft 14-, hand lever 38a serving to disengage the dog clutch. The bevel gears 35 and 36 are mounted on the shafts 33 and 37 respectively and the gear 35 drives the gear 36 in a 4 to 1 reduction ratio.

The contour of the cam 25 is such that with bevel gear 35 the carrier and nipper assembly is rotated intermittently one quarter of a revolution for every complete revolution rotated by the bevel gear 35. The latter is slidable along the shaft 33, which is splined, and is carried by a bracket assembly 39 supported from the shaft 14 and 37 so that the bevel gears 35, 36 constantly remain in mesh during the vertical and rotary movements of the carrier and nipper assembly.

A correction mechanism is provided to assist the crank plate 31 over the dead centre positions. The mechanism consists of a cam 40, a slide rod 41 and a pin 42, the slide rod 41 being spring loaded to act on the connecting rod 32 at the inner dead centre position, while the cam 40 acts on the connecting rod 32 to assist the motion over the outer dead centre position.

The means for opening and closing each row of nippers 11 comprises a slidable spindle 43 mounting at spaced intervals partial helices 44, in the present embodiment six helices are provided, one for each pair of clamps 19. Each spindle 43 is adapted to be moved lengthwise at an appropriate location to introduce or remove from between the associated pairs of clamps 19 the helices 44 to close or open respectively said pairs of clamps 19 and so the associated row of nippers 11. i

Each row of nippers 11 is closed and open at appropri- "ate locations,.that is .at..the yarn-feeding station 12 and yarn-releasing station 13 respectively by mechanism which is identical in both cases. The nipper-opening mechanism will now be described but it should be appreciated that the-nipper-closing mechanism correspondstexactly to the nipper-opening mechanism, the only difference being that .the nipper-opening and nipper-closing mechanisms are disposed at opposite ends of the rotatable carrier 1th.

The nipper-opening mechanism comprises a cam acting upon a follower 46 carried by one end of a bellcrank. lever 47 pivoted at 48. The other end of the bellcrank lever47 has connected thereto a push rod 4?, and

:as the bellcrank lever 47 ispivoted about its pivot 48 by the cam 45 the push rod 49 is moved forwards to contact a smallbellcrank lever;50 which,.in turn, acts on the spindle 43 and. moves the latter from right to left against the sponds to the push rod 47, is moved by cam and bellcrank lever against the locking plate 52 to pivotsame about the point 55 against the action of the torsion spring 54. Thisreleases the locking collar 53 and the spindle 43 is moved from left to right by the spring 51 to urge the helices 44 between the pairs of clamps 19 and close the row of nippers 11.

The yarn-feeding station 12 is provided with the usual endless chains 56 carrying the yarn spools 57, and the usual tuft-severing knives 58. The carpet level in the yarn-releasing station is designated by the reference numeral 59.

The main and auxiliary cam shafts 26, 21 of the loom are driven at the same speed, and the dog clutch 33 can be engaged only when a row of nippers 11 is disposed in its correct position relative to the position of the loom.

In operation, each row of nippers 11 is moved below the yarn-feeding station 12 in the open condition the nipper and carrier assembly is moved vertically upwards as described above and the row of nippers 11 grips a tuft of yarn and is closed also as described above. The assembly is then'moved downwards and the tuft severed by the knives 58 from the yarn supply. This row of nippers 11 is then moved in two steps to the yarn-releasing station 13 whereat the row of nippers 11 is opened as described above and the yarn tufts are bound into the cloth by the weft in the customary manner. The empty row of nippers 11 is then moved in two steps to the yarnfeeding station 12 whereat the above-described action takes place.

Each row of nippers 11 is loaded and emptied in turn in accordance with the above-described sequence of operations.

In a modification, the released tufts of yarn are applied to the adhesive surface of a sheet-like backing.

It should be noted that the abovedescribed tuft-inserting mechanism can be embodied in a single or multiple weft needle looms.

As a result of the present invention, the rate of insertionof tufts per unit time is increased and this tends to increase the speed at which carpets can be produced.

I claim:

1. A mechanism for inserting tufts in carpets, the mechanism comprising a rotary carrier; at least two sets of nippers spaced angularly around the carrier; each set of nippers consisting of a fixed nipper assembly, a movable nipper assembly and clamps supporting said nipper assemblies; means for rotating said carrier step-by-step to dispose each set of nippers in turn at yarn-feeding and yarn-releasing stations;..means for feeding yarn to each set of nippersatthe-feeding station; means for severing the tuft yarn from the feed at. the feeding station; means "forclosing or'opening each set of nippers at the'respective stations to grip or release the yarn; means for retaining each set of nippers open until acted upon by the nipperclosing means; resilient means for urging the nipper-closing means to an operative position; and means for moving said carrier vertically upwards into the yarn-feeding station as each row of nippers approaches same and for returning said carrier to its original position when tufts of yarn are gripped by said row of nippers.

2. A mechanism for inserting tufts in carpets, the mechanism comprising a rotary carrier; at least two sets of nipper spaced angularly around the carrier, each set of nippers consisting of a fixed nipper assembly, a movable nipper assembly and clamps supporting said nipper assemblies; means for rotating said carrier step-bystep to dispose each set of nippers inturn at yarn-feeding and yarn-releasing stations; means for feeding yarn to each set of nippers at the feeding station; means for severing the tuft yarn from the feed at the feeding station; means for closing or opening each set of nippers at the respective stations to grip or release the yarn; said means comprising a series of helices adapted for movement-toand-from a position in which they act on said clampsto close each set of nippers; spring-loaded means for retaining each set of nippers open until the clamps are acted upon by said helices; resilient means-for urging the helices continuously to the position whereat they act on said clamps; and means for moving said carrier vertically upwards into the yarn-feeding station as each row of nippers approaches same and for returning said carrier to its original position when tufts of yarn are gripped by said row of nippers.

3. A mechanism according to claim 2, in which the means for rotating the carrier comprises a shaft mounting the carrier, a driving shaft, bevel gearing interposed between said shafts, and a cam-actuated crank plate rotating said driving shaft, the step-by-step movement of the carrier being effected by the cam contour.

47 A mechanism according to claim 3, comprising a mechanism for assisting the crank plate over the dead centre positions.

5. A mechanism for inserting tufts in carpets, the mechanism comprising a rotary carrier; at least two sets of nippers spaced angularly around the carrier; means for rotating said carrier step-by-step to dispose each set of nippers in turn at yarn-feeding and yarnreleasing stations; means for feeding yarn to each set of nippers at the feeding station; means for severing the tuft yarn from the feed at the feeding station; a series of helices operatively associated with each set of nippers for movement to-and-from a position in which they, act to close each set of nippers; means for effecting movement of each series of helices to and from the nipper-closing position respectively; and means for moving said carrier vertically upwards into the yarn-feeding station as each row of nippers approaching same and for returning said carrier to its original position when tufts of yarn are gripped by said row of nippers.

6. A mechanism for inserting tufts in carpets, the mechanism comprising a rotary carrier; at least two sets of nippers spaced angularly around the carrier; means for rotating said carrier step-by-step to dispose each -set of nippers in turn at yarn-feeding and yarnreleasing stations; means for feeding yarn to each set of nippers at the feeding station; means for severing the tuft yarn from the feed at the feeding station; a series of helices operatively associated with each set of nippers for movement to-and-from a position in which they act to close each set of nippers; means for effecting movement of each series of helices to and from the nipper-closing position respectively; and means for moving said carrier vertic'ally upwards into the yarn-feeding station as each row of nippers approaches same and for returning said carrier to itsoriginal position when tufts of yarn are gripped by said row of nippers, said means comprising rods supporting the carrier, and cams acting on said rods to impart thereto a vertical movement.

7. A mechanism for inserting tufts in carpets, the mechanism comprising a rotary carrier; at least two sets of nippers spaced angularly around the carrier; means for rotating said carrier step-by-step to dispose each set of nippers in turn at yarn-feeding and yarnreleasing stations; means for feeding yarn to each set of nippers at the feeding station; means for severing the tuft yarn from the feed at the feeding station; a series of helices operatively associated with each set of nippers; means resiliently urging each series of helices to a position whereat they close each set of nippers; means for effecting movement of each series of helices to and from the nipper-closing position respectively; and means for moving said carrier vertically upwards into the yamfeeding station as each row of nippers approaches same and for returning said carrier to its original position when tufts of yarn are gripped by said row of nippers, said means comprising rods supporting the carrier, and cams acting on said rods to impart thereto a vertical movement.

8. A mechanism for inserting tufts in carpets, the mechanism comprising a rotary carrier; at least two sets of nippers spaced angularly around the carrier; means for rotating said carrier step-by-step to dispose each set of nippers in turn at yarn-feeding and yarnreleasing stations; means for feeding yarn to each set of nippers at the feeding station; means for severing the tuft yarn from the feed at the feeding station; a series of helices operatively associated with each set of nippers; means resiliently urging each series of helices to a position whereat they close each set of nippers; means for moving the series of helices against the action of said resilient means to open each set of nippers; a locking plate adapted for movement to a position in which it maintains each set of nippers open; means for moving the locking plate to a position in which said resilient means can act on each series of helices to close each set of nippers; and means for moving said carrier vertically upwards into the yarn-feeding station as each row of nippers approaches same and for returning said carrier to its original position when tufts of yarn are gripped by said row of nippers, said means comprising rods supporting the carrier, and earns acting on said rods to impart thereto a vertical movement.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

